Tobacco-stripping machine



April 17, 1928.

2 sheets-$1158: 1

Filed April 24, 1925 INVENTOR JR 5 c0 2/ LZZ, BY

ATTORNEY April 17, 1928.

J. P. SCOVILL TOBACCO STRIPPING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOI} JPSCm/LZZ, BY "495% ".1 N

Patented Apr. 17, 1928,

} c n-{ED STA ES PATENT 'oFFicE... I

JAMES P. SCOVILL, or 'rnom'iv'nw YORK, ASSIGNOR 'r-o PEERLESS ,MAoHiiiECon :PoRA'rIoN, or new YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION or ELA AR TOBACCO-STRIPPING MACHINE.

Application filed April 24, 1925. Serial No. 25,517,

This invention is an improvement in tobacco stripping machines, and moreparticularly in machines foi stripping the lamina from the stem cleanlyand in relatively large pieces; i

In the usual construction of stripping or stemming machine of thischaracter the leaf is grasped by the butt of" the stem, and,

moved through stemming devices,--which strip the lamina from the stemwhile it is so. held. The lamina does not strip readily in thisdirection, for several reasons, among which, may be mentioned thedisposition of the stem branches, and the. close tenacious unioirbetweenthe lamina andthe stem at the point Where the side edges of the laminamerge into the stem, near the butt. I

At this point the union between thestem and the leaf is strong and toughoffering a relatively large tensile resistance to any stress tendingtoward separation of the lamina and stem. It is impracticable however,to strip toward the butt The tip of the stem is not strong enough towithstandthe pullingstress of the, stripping operation,

and moreover since a relatively large part of the liner stem portioniscapable of utili-.

zation for all purposes for Which theleai' is used, it is desirable thatin the stripping operation a portion of the stem tip be left with thestripped lamina, and that this portion of the leaf be exposed to aslittlechance of mutilation as possible in ,the stripping operation. 7 I

In stripping or stemming machines wherein the stem butt is-held duringthe stripping operation,-there isusually a relatively largeproportion ofdrops, that-,isof leaves not tightly enough grasped bythe transportingmeans to resist the pull otthe strippingdevices, and which passthrough-the machine unchanged, to :be later stripped manually fullydescribed hereinafter, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, andpointed" p out in the claims appended hereto, it .being' understood'that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of.conor in some other manner;

treatment-,tor bring them into proper case for-the separation off-thelamina and stem without breaking. or shattering fragment-a be resortedto Without departing from, the

spirit of the invention. p

tion of the leaf, it is desirable. that the strip-' ping operationbeasnearly complete as, pos sible While the tobacco is in such acondition, and that the-dropping of'the leaves from any cause beavoided, or at .least greatly limited. I

It is also desirable that the stripping operation be as nearly aspossible in one direction, and substantially continuous, and whiletheleafiis grasped by a single grasping means, so far atle'ast concernsthe stripping of the body portion of the leaf, thus to avoid theliability vto breakage, of the stem from re-handling j" The strippingoperation is usually performed bycooperating leaf transporting mechanismand stripping devices, which operate on diverging lines, so that Whilethe leaf is moved laterally by the transporting means, there is inaddition'relative movement of the leaf andstripping devices longi-r theaction of tudinally of theileaf. i

With such. an arrangement, the stripping devices, upon the closelyadherent portion of the lamina at the buttis not sufficientlyviolent'nor of a duration to ,eificiently break this connection.

An objectpf the present invention. isthe Y provision oi: a machinehaving means to primarily break the lamina transversely of the leaf oneach side of the stem}, near thev butt, prior to the strippingoperation.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of mechanism operatingalong a selected line transversely of, the leaf over a lengthrof time,and with. a sufiicient violent action to thoroughly break up the strongconnection, ,betvveen the leaf andthestem near the butt. I g

vAnother object] is ;the' provision of mechanism for more firmlygrasping. the butt-s1 of' the stems as they are fed through the ma:

chine, thereby to reduce the proportion of} drops. 1 To theaccomplishment of the foregoiiig and such other objects. as mayhereinafter.

appear, the invention. consists .ingthec'onstruction and novel"combination of parts struction within the scope of the claims, may;

5.105 a plan View of, the improved connected with the extension.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are plan views of a leaf showing its condition at theend of the several stages of the operation.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections on the line 66 and 77 respectively, of Fig.2.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a suitable supporting frame1 is pro vided, having at one end an extension 2, in which is journaleda pair of rollers 3 and 4t, and an endless feed belt 5 is supported bythe rollers Sand 4. The upper run of the said belt moves over a table 6which is adjustably mounted on laterally extending arms 7 from theextension, the adjustment being provided by slot and screw connectionsindicated at 8. This table carries at the edge adjacent tothe extension2, a butt plate 9, in the form of an upstanding flange, against whichthe leaves are butted, as they are moved over the table by the feedbelt.

As the leaves leave the feed belt 5, they are delivered to thetransporting mechanism, which carries them past the stripping devices.The transporting mechanism in the I present instance is constituted by apair of upper and lower chains 10 and 11 respectively, the chains beingso arranged that the lowerrun of the upper chain and the upperrun of thelower chain move in contact along a horizontal line, parallel with thelength of the butt plate 9.

The lower chain is supported by sprocket wheels on shafts 12 and 13respectively, the former'being journaled transversely of the main frame1, and on the rear end thereof,

While the latter is a stub shaft journaled in the extension 2. Thischain is driven in a manner to be presently described, and it in turndrives the upper chain, which is supported by sprocket wheels on shafts14 and 15, the formed being just above the shaft 12 while the latter isabove and in rear of the stub shaft 13. The upper chain is tensioned bymeans of a wheel 16 carried by a plate 17, which is adjustably connectedto a bracket 18 extending upwardly from the main frame. The adjustmentis provided by means of a slot in the plate, and a bolt on the bracket,the parts indicated at 19.

The stub shaft 13 also drives the feed belt 5 through a. sprocket chain20 mounted on sprockets on the stub shaft and on the shaft 3respectively, and the upper run of the chain is supported by a groovedroller 21' connected with the extension 2. The shaft 3 is adjustablelongitudinally of the extension. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seenthat the extension is longitudinally slotted at 22 to receive the shaft,and that a plate 23 mounted on the shaft is adjustably The plate hasbolts at its ends, which move in slots 24: in the extension, and it willbe evident that when the bolts are tightened, the shaft will be anchoredin adjusted position, it bethat on the cooperatingruns of the chains theconcavities of the links of the two chains face each other, and the runsare so spaced that the convex portions of each chain, that is thepivoted ends of the links will engage Within the concave portions of theother chain. Thus there is a close engagement throughout the length ofthe runs and a positive driving connection between the lower and theupper chain.

The chains 10 and 11, as before stated,

constitute the transporting mechanism for the leaves, to carry them pastthe stripping devices, which'in the present instance are composed ofupper and lower rotating members having their axes in the same verticalplane, which is lnclmed with respectto'the travel of the cooperatingruns of the chains,

at an acute angle, and diverges from the direction of the travel of theleaves.

The upper member is composed of a shaft 25 journaled in bearings 26 onthe main frame. A hub member or bushing 27 is mounted on the shaft, anda plurality of stripping brushes is supported by the bushing, which isrectangular in cross section, the brushes being supported on the fourfaces of the bushing. The brushes are arranged in pairs, eachpairconsisting of a main brush 28, and an auxiliary brush 29,

arranged in front of the main bruslnand posltioned to engage the leafprior to the engagement of the main brush.

Each-of the brushes 28 is carried by a channel. shaped member 30,backing against one face of the'hub 27, and havingv an extension 31fitting that face of the hub which considered with relation to thedirection of travel is at the front of the channel mem' ber. Each brush29 is carried by a channel member 32, having extensions 33 and 3&-

lapping on the extension 31. Oneofithese extensions 34 in the presentinstanceis sl0tted, and engaged by a screw bolt 35 to adjustably connectthe brush to the extension The brushes 28 are oppositely arranged, andthe bristle of each brush'are of such length that when the brushes'arevertical, the

longest bristle of the lowermost brush will be. at or above the level ofthe meeting lineo't the adjacent runs of the chains 10 and '11.

The brushes 29 are so arranged, that when the brushes 28 are in thepositionjust described,

the bristles ofthe brushes will: be substanbut lateral to a planethrough the axis of the carriers for the blades 36 are'on opposite facesof. the hub. Rounded members 39, segmental in cross section, arearranged on the remaining faces of the hub, the whole constituting aledger member for cooperation with the brushes. Referring to Fig. 1itwill be noticed that the shafts 25 and37 are inclined with respect tothe direction of travel of the chains, 10-11, diverging from the planeof the chains and the direction of travel of the tobacco leaves. Theshaft 25 is provided with fast and loose pulleys 40,

which may be connected by means of a belt with a suitable source ofpower. The shaft has a driving connection with the shaft 37 through gearwheels 41.

The shaft 25 also drives a counter shaft 42 journaled in bearing arms 43at the rear of the main frame, through a miter gear connection 44. Theshaft-42 drives the shaft 4 through a miter gear connection 45, and theshaft 12 through a similar connection 46. Thus the shaft drives thechains 10 and 11, the feed belt 5, andthe-stripping devices.

In orderto insure the entrance of the leaves between the strippingdevices, that end of the blade carrier adjacent to the chains10-1.1 istapered or conical, and spi-' rally grooved or threaded as indicated at47,

this arrangement tending to feed the leaves into position between thestripping devices. To facilitate the smooth feeding of the butts fromthe feed table 5, between the cooperating runs of the chains 10-11, aguide plate and deflector 47 is connected to the extension at theentrance end of the chains.

run of the lower chain, and guided into po-' sition between the chains.Upper and lower sets of guide and guard plates 48 are supported aboveand below the path traversed by the stem butts as they are carriedthrough the machine, the said plates extending from near the butt plateto near the discharge end .gaging the upper run.

the leaf is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

versely on each side of the stem, as shown in Fig. 3. The said mechanismcomprises a fixed and a rotatable brush, shown more particularly in Fig.6. The fixed brush con sists of a plurality ofbristles 51 held in achannel member 52 which has an extension 53 slotted vert1cally, topermit ad ustable connection withthe mam frainel. Screws -54 are passedthrough the slots into engage.- ment with theframe, and it will beevident thatwhen the screws are loosened, the plate and the brush may beadjusted vertically. Normally the free ends of the bristles are at aboutthe level of the meeting line of the adjacent runs of the leaf carryingchains 10 and 11. The brush is spaced away from the chains, a littledistance as shown, so that the break made by the brush and thecooperating rotary brush to be described will be spaced a slightdistance from the chains.

The rotary brush is securedvto a shaft 56 journaled in bearing arms 57extending laterally from a bracket 58 forming a part of the main frame,and extending longitudi-. nally thereof. This bracket also. supports thebearing arms 43 before mentioned, and the angle plates 50. The shaft 56is driven by a sprocket chain 57 connecting registering sprocket wheelson the shafts 42, 56, and the bristles of the brushes 51 and arerelatively stiff, and adapted to exert a somewhat harsh action on thelamina thereby to insure a clean transverse break of each side of thestem. The engaging surface of the brush moves away from the carrierchains, and the saidbrush together with the brush 51 will breakthelamina transversely in each side of the stem, thereby initiating thestripping The sequence of operations performed on In Fig. the leaf isshown after it passes the .stem 62, near the butt, the lamina being.

thus divided into two portions The stripping devices 28 2936 strip thelamina on each side of the stem away from the break 61. andtoward'thetip, leaving'the portion above the break intact. Usually cuttir'igmechanism is provided for cutting the main stem near the tip, since thefiner portion of the. stem is'utilizable. The lamina thus severed fromthe stem is discharged, and the stelnwith the adhering portions 63 iscar leaf butts. The said mechanism comprises a pair of chains 64: andsimilar to the chains ranged that the loiver run of the chain 64cooperates with the upper run of the chain 65 in the same manner as theadjacent runs of the chains 10-11 cooperate. The forward ends of thechains 64 and 65 are carried by the shafts l2 and 14;, While the rearends are carried by shafts (56 and GTjourP naled in the main frame, andparallel With the shafts 12 and The shaft 1 1 is connected to the shaft36 by :i sprocket chain 68, which engages registering sprocket Wheels onthe shafts. A tension roller (59 is provided for tensioning the chain68. Thus the chain 64: is driven, and the chain 65 is drivenfrictionally thereby. The to bacco leaves are transferred from thechains 10 and 11 to the chains and (35, which are spaced laterally fromthe plane of the chains 10 and 11, and grasp the stems of the leavessome distance aivayfroni the portions 63 of the lamina. I

The butt cleaning mechanism is arrai 2d adj acent to the cooperatingruns of the chains 6 i65, the said mechanism, rm. 7, comprising a fixedand rotatable brush. The fixed brush is similar to the brush 51, andsimilarly mounted being adjustably connected with the bracket 58 asindicated at 71. The rotary brush 72 is secured to a shaft 73 jour naledlongitudinally of the bracket 58. The shaft 73 is driven from the shaft4-2 by means of a sprocket chain 74, engaging registering Wheels on thetwo shafts.

A holding plate 75 is arranged on the opposite side of the chains t3l65from the brushes, the plate being supported by a bracket arm 76extending from a cross bar 77 which connects a pair of arms 78 supportedby the main frame. These arms 78 carry a cross plate 79 at the free endsthereof Which are adjacent to the chains fiat-65, and the cross plate isdirectly be low the edge of the plate 75, and spaced apart slightlytherefrom. Because of the resilientmounting of the plates "75.79, theymay move apart from each other to compensate for stems of larger size,or bunched stems, but the said plates tend to hold the stemsperpendicular to the plane of the chains, and to the operating line ofthe brushes. lVhen the portions have been cleaned from the stems, thestems are discharged from the machine.

Means is provided for cleaning the chains 11, 64 and 65. Brushes 8081are sup ported by a common carrier 82 slidably stems broken, or Weak,which in the usual.

operation are discardedat some stage in the operation, either becausethe stem is not of a length, or in proper position to be grasped by thetransporting mechanism, or because it is broken or becomes broken beforeor after it reaches the stripping mechanism. Such discarded. leaves areknown as drops, and are usually stemmed manually.

In the present invention, the preliminary breaking mechanism Will ejectall leaves with defective or stems too Weak to Withstand the strippingoperation, since the action of the preliminary breaker is usuallyharsher than that of the stripping mechani m, and always suiiicient toeject loose or partially loose leaves. Thus the preliminary breakingmechanism is a testing device, for testing the strength of the stems, asto whether or not they are strong enough to pass through the strippingmechanism.

1 claim:

1. in a tobacco stemming machine, means to preliminarily separate theleaf lamina transversely of the stem into two portions, and means tostrip the portions from the stem, the first named means comprisingcooperating fixed and rotating brushes.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, means to grasp the buttsof asuccession of leavesand transport them in one direction, means to breakthe lamina of the leaves transverse ly of the stems close to thetransporting means, means to strip the lamina from the break toward thetip of the leaf, a second transporting means receiving from the first,and arranged to grasp the butts near the break, and a second strippingmeans for stripping the lamina towards the butts, While the leaves areheld by the second transporting means, the breaking means having partsmoving at right angles to thedirection of travel of the leaves.

Signed at Troy, in the selaer and State of New day of April, A. D. 1925.

JAMES P. SCOVILL.

county of Bens- Yorl, this 20th

